Method of monitoring at least one characteristic of a type of coffee

Abstract

A method of monitoring at least one characteristic of a type of coffee from a plurality of reference characteristics associated with each type of coffee, each reference characteristic being associated with a respective reference signal, said method comprising the steps of:sensing, by one or more sensors, the concentration of one or more volatile organic compounds in a mixture of volatile organic compounds released from the coffee in a sampling time interval;generating a coffee-representative sampling signal for each sampling time interval, as a function of the volatile organic compounds;comparing each sampling signal so generated to detect a change over time in one or more volatile organic compounds released from the coffee at successive sampling time intervals;generating a signal representative of the change over time in one or more volatile organic compounds released from the coffee when the change is sensed;comparing the change-representative signal so generated with the reference signals associated with each reference characteristic;generating a characteristic-recognition signal as a function of the comparison between the signal representative of the change over time and the reference signals.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of monitoring at least one characteristic of a type of coffee preferably stored in a hopper of a grinder or grinder-doser. The present invention also relates to an apparatus and a system for monitoring at least one characteristic of a type of coffee.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] The equipment required for the preparation of the coffee cups, i.e. the grinder and the coffee machine, must be suitably regulated. Coffee beans have peculiar characteristics that should be accounted for when calibrating and programming the equipment. Namely, account must be taken of the blend in use, the degree of roast of the blend or the date of packaging of the coffee in the package and also of the change of given features of the coffee during storage in the package, the grinder or the coffee machine. For these reasons, each type of coffee in use must be suitably ground by a specific grinder-doser and treated with pressurized hot water with given press...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0017]Even when not expressly stated, the individual features as described with reference to the particular embodiments shall be intended as auxiliary to and / or interchangeable with other features described with reference to other exemplary embodiments.

[0018]The present invention relates to a method of monitoring at least one characteristic a type of coffee from a plurality of reference characteristics having a reference signal associated therewith. Preferably, the characteristic to be recognized is associated with the coffee contained in a hopper 300 associated with a grinder or a grinder-doser or an espresso machine. In particular, the hopper 300 is part of a coffee grinding and / or dosing device.

[0019]The method comprises the steps as set forth hereinbelow, performed according to a preferred embodiment.

[0020]The method of monitoring at least one characteristic of coffee comprises the step of sensing, by one or more sensors 301, the concentration of one or more volatile organic com...

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of monitoring at least one characteristic of a type of coffee preferably stored in a hopper of a grinder or grinder-doser. The present invention also relates to an apparatus and a system for monitoring at least one characteristic of a type of coffee.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] The equipment required for the preparation of the coffee cups, i.e. the grinder and the coffee machine, must be suitably regulated. Coffee beans have peculiar characteristics that should be accounted for when calibrating and programming the equipment. Namely, account must be taken of the blend in use, the degree of roast of the blend or the date of packaging of the coffee in the package and also of the change of given features of the coffee during storage in the package, the grinder or the coffee machine. For these reasons, each type of coffee in use must be suitably ground by a specific grinder-doser and treated with pressurized hot water with given press...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0017]Even when not expressly stated, the individual features as described with reference to the particular embodiments shall be intended as auxiliary to and / or interchangeable with other features described with reference to other exemplary embodiments.

[0018]The present invention relates to a method of monitoring at least one characteristic a type of coffee from a plurality of reference characteristics having a reference signal associated therewith. Preferably, the characteristic to be recognized is associated with the coffee contained in a hopper 300 associated with a grinder or a grinder-doser or an espresso machine. In particular, the hopper 300 is part of a coffee grinding and / or dosing device.

[0019]The method comprises the steps as set forth hereinbelow, performed according to a preferred embodiment.

[0020]The method of monitoring at least one characteristic of coffee comprises the step of sensing, by one or more sensors 301, the concentration of one or more volatile organic com...

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